As a leading San Diego tummy tuck surgeon in Del Mar, Dr. Chasan recognizes many people feel self-conscious due to their stomach appearance. Significant weight loss, pregnancy and genetic factors can cause the stomach skin to become lax and fatty tissue deposits to accumulate beneath it. Even the most rigorous diet and exercise regimen might not help remove the excess skin and fatty tissue. Fortunately, the abdominoplasty procedure can be very effective in enhancing the appearance of the midriff. Please read more below to learn more about tummy tucks in San Diego, and the results this surgery helps achieve.

Dr. Paul Chasan discusses the benefits of the Tummy Tuck Surgery

Tummy Tuck Before and After Photos

What Is a Tummy Tuck?

Abdominoplasty, otherwise known as a tummy tuck, is a procedure that removes the excess skin of the lower abdomen and tightens the abdominal muscles. After having children, it is common for the lower abdominal skin to be stretched out, have a significant amount of stretch marks, and the musculature to become lax. Dr. Chasan can correct these aesthetic issues by performing tummy mini or full tummy tuck procedure.

Tummy Tuck Specialty in San Diego

One of the key components of an abdominoplasty is to suture the rectus abdominus muscles together in the midline to re-establish the flat muscular wall, much like performing an internal “corset”. The excess skin is then removed.

Dr. Chasan utilizes a technique called “progressive tension suturing,” which allows him to place the incisions lower on the abdomen and relieve tension on the scar. This method creates a tighter abdomen, especially in the upper part, and promotes better healing of the incision. The lower abdominal incision is well hidden in the bikini line and by six months is generally only a fine scar. Most of Dr. Chasan’s tummy tuck patients feel well after one week and resume most normal activities after two weeks. Many times, Dr. Chasan performs liposuction in combination with tummy tuck to create the most beautiful stomach appearance possible.

If you are unhappy with your stomach’s appearance and would like to learn if you are a tummy tuck San Diego candidate, please contact Dr. Chasan at 858-450-1555 or click here to schedule a consultation.

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Have any questions or wish to schedule a consult? Click the link below to contact our office today.

Dr. Chasan Discusses Tummy Tucks on The Wellness Hour

Interviewer: So when does it get to a point where a woman needs a tummy tuck over liposuction?

Dr. Chasan: It all is based on their anatomy, on their skin quality. And that’s one of the things they have to come in, and I have to examine them. A lot of times, after kids, their muscles stretched out in the midline. So a lot of women, very active, they exercise. They work on their abs. And they still don’t have a flat abdomen. Generally, that’s because the tissue strength between their two rectus abdominis muscles has stretched. It’s called diastasis recti. So part of a tummy tuck would be to repair that.

Interviewer: So by the way, so I understand this correctly, so the abdomen muscles stretched.

Dr. Chasan: Yes.

Interviewer: And so even if they’re lean, they may have a little pooch.

Dr. Chasan: Pooch, yeah.

Interviewer: And you are doing what?

Dr. Chasan: I’m actually suturing those muscles together, kind of like an internal corset, and that flattens their abdomen. So I look at that. I look at their skin quality. If they don’t have a separation in their muscle and their skin quality is good, they can have liposuction. And so I always will lean towards liposuction if they’re going to get a good result. And there are people who are clearly liposuction people, and there’s clearly those people who are tummy tuck people. And then I don’t know if you remember those Venn diagrams we used to do in second grade, you know, where those two circles intersect, there’s that group in between where you could do…and I have to talk to ’em and see how much surgery they want. And, you know, it’s a communication. It’s a process. And if I can talk to them and understand what they want for their abdomen, how much surgery they want, sometimes a tummy tuck is a better option. Sometimes liposuction’s a better option.

Interviewer: Now, you are known for low incisions on tummy tuck. And smaller incisions, or scarring, I should say. Tell me why.

Dr. Chasan: Going back to that philosophy of taking tension off the incision. Take tension for your… delicate when you cut the skin and you don’t use any extra cautery on the skin, when you close it, I use a technique called progressive tension suturing. And actually, once you elevate the abdominal flap, what we used to do is just flex the bed and close it. That puts all the tension on the skin. But now, what I do is I suture underneath that flap, progressively suturing down that flap. And what that does is it does two…well, it actually does three things. It allows me to get a scar that’s lower. That’s very important. It allows me to take tension off that incision so I have a better scar. And also, it diminishes the potential for fluid collections or seromas in the abdomen. So this technique, progressive tension suturing, which is a relatively new technique…

Interviewer: And most guys don’t do it that way?

Dr. Chasan: Most guys don’t. And it’s been revolutionary for my tummy tucks.

Interviewer: So just for a thinner, lower…

Dr. Chasan: Thinner, lower…

Interviewer: …scar

Dr. Chasan: And then, as I mentioned before, I like that scar to be a perfect, linear crease to look…I want that scar to look like an underwear crease line. That’s what I want it to look like.

Interviewer: So it’s really almost undetectable.

Dr. Chasan: Yes.

Interviewer: And do you see, as a surgeon, I know you wanna be positive here, but you see tummy tuck incisions…

Dr. Chasan: Yes.

Interviewer: …sometimes from other doctors and you shake your head?

Dr. Chasan: I shake my head, because, you know what? If it’s not a curvy, linear line, it’s laziness. It’s just surgical laziness. That’s it. You know what? A dog ear doesn’t go away by itself. An irregular scar doesn’t go away. To me, I’m only as good as my last surgery. I want it perfect. And if I’m on the table and it’s not perfect, I’m going to make it perfect.

Interviewer: What about the belly button?

Doctor: Yeah.

Interviewer: You can create a natural-looking belly button?

Dr. Chasan: Yeah. Actually, it’s the person’s own belly button that you’re using. And so you actually cut around the belly button. You dunk it. You close the abdomen. And then you tease it out and create a…so you create the frame around it. I’m prideful about how the belly button…the belly button has to look good. So I’m very prideful about that. So, you know, if you go on to my website, you’ll take a look, and you can look at the belly buttons.